The situation, which had almost caused the collapse of the castle’s very foundations, seemed to be resolving smoothly thanks to Keldric’s dramatic display of resourcefulness.
However, there were still a few minor problems in Bogenberg.
“So… you don’t know the reason?”
“Yes. I’m not sure what the exact cause is…”
Firstly, Jacober, whom Keldric had risked his life to capture, had become an idiot.
To be precise, he was an idiot during the day and returned to normal at night, a peculiar condition that even Niccolo, who was in charge of Lord Ortwin’s treatment, couldn’t figure out.
As a result, Keldric felt a faint sense of fear for the first time in his life.
Was it so shameful to be covered in urine that one would become a complete fool?
Could it be that mages could turn even urine into a deadly weapon?
However, Keldric couldn’t bring himself to ask Alyssa such a rude question, so he kept his mouth shut.
Therefore, Jacober’s interrogation had to be conducted at night. It was unavoidable.
And the second problem was that Lord Ortwin showed no signs of waking up.
While Keldric was away in Spitzenberg, Niccolo visited Lord Ortwin’s bedroom every day, meticulously examining his condition.
There was definitely progress. His complexion had improved, and the Erosion Larva remaining in his body were so few that they were naturally dying off as they were swept away by the bloodstream.
However, regaining consciousness seemed to be a different matter.
Keldric couldn’t do anything about this, so he had to hope that Niccolo would display his excellent medical skills or that Lord Ortwin would overcome his illness.
Finally, the third problem was perhaps the greatest hardship for Keldric.
“…Alyssa. I’m really sorry.”
There was no reply. Keldric bowed his head towards the door that wouldn’t open.
Having been born and raised in this world for 18 years, Keldric had never sincerely regretted or blamed himself for his actions.
But this time, the situation was different. Keldric sighed, thinking of Alyssa behind the firmly closed door.
‘I was crazy.’
Thinking about it calmly, it was a completely insane thing to do.
He had sprayed someone with urine. Not just cold water, but warm urine that he had just relieved himself of a few minutes ago.
But it was clearly necessary.
Keldric didn’t regret spraying Jacober with urine itself.
It was just that he had poured that warm, bright yellow fluid on someone in front of the person who had produced it, so he could only imagine how humiliating it must have been.
It felt as if the world was testing Keldric.
Why did it have to be ‘fresh urine from a young maiden’ as a condition, and why did it have to work so well?
Jacober had become half-crazy, but the fact that it had prevented that unbelievable explosion was a greater achievement.
Even Count Bogenberg praised Keldric’s contribution.
He seemed surprised that the castle had almost been half-destroyed, and moved the interrogation of Jacober to a cabin on the outskirts of the city.
It was a natural measure to take. Another unexpected situation might occur.
But that was that, and personal shame was a separate issue.
“…”
Keldric waited in front of Alyssa’s room for a long time. There was no response from Alyssa.
He could clearly sense her presence inside the room, but even that was just the muffled sound of rustling.
She was probably hiding under the covers. At this point, Keldric thought it was best not to bother Alyssa.
‘Damn it.’
Keldric had also rolled around in bed when he remembered embarrassing things he had done as a child.
He thought it was probably a similar feeling, but it was difficult to guess at such a profound sense of shame.
It seemed that she needed time to think. Both Alyssa and Keldric.
Alyssa needed time for this shameful memory to fade a little, and Keldric needed to think about how to cheer Alyssa up, as well as his actual job.
“Lord Keldric. His Excellency is looking for you.”
The territorial war.
It was now so close that it could neither be avoided nor rejected.
“Let’s go.”
And Keldric had no intention of avoiding it.
☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩
A territorial war wasn’t exactly a fierce battle.
If the lords reached a smooth agreement, the troops could be disbanded without a fight, or at most, a few dozen or hundreds
of people would gather and bicker, and the fight would be over before they knew it.
Just because the battle wasn’t fierce didn’t mean the struggle for profit wasn’t.
Whether they fought a bloody battle or not, someone losing ultimately meant that one of them had to bear the cost.
The winner takes all, and the loser gives up. A principle that encompasses the foundation of the world.
One might wonder if nobles would really take everything from each other, but one never knew.
Whatever the case, the defeated lord would not be in good shape.
In extreme cases, a bankrupt lord would be unable to pay the mercenaries, and the angry mercenaries would loot the entire territory.
Most of those mercenaries were executed and departed this world, but the important thing was that such a thing had happened.
Conversely, it was the best opportunity for the sons of noble families and knights to rise in the world.
It would be painful if the lord they served lost, but they would still get paid and could leave.
Moreover, if they had distinguished themselves on the battlefield, their value would skyrocket along with their rising reputation.
“There is something I need you to do.”
The first territorial war, so to speak, was the stage where Keldric would officially serve as a knight for the first time.
He had served as a knight in many ways before. For example, he had helped Lord Herman of the Cassel family, who ruled Bellam, to participate in a trial by combat.
However, participating in a territorial war was a different story.
Especially if that first territorial war was between powerful nobles within the empire.
“I’m listening.”
Keldric focused on what Count Bogenberg was saying. Count Bogenberg smiled with satisfaction and pointed to a map spread out on the table.
“Since the mountains stretch west of our Bogenberg, this side will be safe as long as Spitzenberg holds out.”
Keldric still found the map difficult to understand.
He saw something crooked and protruding like dentures being pointed out as mountains, and even Keldric, who was now used to it, had to look again.
“…Yes. I see.”
“Therefore, the direction we need to pay attention to in the future is the north. We must protect Yaben.”
Count Bogenberg’s finger pointed to two place names.
The place name in the lower left was Salzhoff, and the place name in the upper right was Yaben.
“I will soon send a proclamation to Count Gofrit through Duke Yaben. That Lassau brat will probably read that proclamation too. I wonder if he’ll even be able to understand it.”
The Barony of Gofrit and the Barony of Yaben were right next to each other. It was as if they were dividing and sharing a single piece of land.
That might be good from the perspective of an invader, but not now.
“I’ve already hired some mercenaries. But that might not be enough. I will conscript troops.”
In other words, serfs and other territory residents would be conscripted.
“Count Bogenberg. It’s the farming season.”
Troops were being conscripted in late April and early May.
Unfortunately, this was the time when serfs and free farmers were busy sowing and plowing the fields.
Keldric recalled the scene he had glimpsed on his way back from Spitzenberg.
The granary area stretched out to the south of Bogenberg, and he could clearly see them wearing baskets around their waists, sowing seeds and plowing the fields.
It was obvious that serfs who usually only fought when they were drunk wouldn’t be able to fight well.
If they were conscripted, they would be at the forefront as infantry. Then who would do the farming?
The answer was already determined.
“We’ll have to hire free farmers or laborers. I’m already looking into it.”
In the end, it was about money. Territorial wars cost a lot of money in many ways.
However, as time went on, the expenses became more reasonable, and the profits earned from the territory increased accordingly, so each region of the empire was suffering from territorial wars.
Count Bogenberg would be able to handle the expenses without difficulty.
Moreover, the last tournament was held frugally under the pretext of Lent. The expenses saved there would be used for the territorial war.
“Lent will soon be over. And the Holy Triduum will begin.”
The end of Lent is marked by the Holy Triduum. After the Easter Vigil and the evening Mass on Easter Sunday, the next step was already determined.
“Lord Keldric. I will give you forty well-trained soldiers. Before the Easter Vigil ends, take your troops to Bellam immediately.”
“I understand.”
“If you need more troops, I’ll give you funds to procure mercenaries locally. I’m going to kick Lassau’s ass myself.”
Count Bogenberg would lead the troops himself. The vassal knights and council retainers under his command were a bonus.
It was unclear where they would go.
Perhaps they would reinforce their troops in Salzhoff and completely crush the Barony of Gofrit, or perhaps they would go around Spitzenberg and directly attack the County of Lassau.
But whatever the case, Keldric only had to faithfully carry out the given mission.
“I trust you.”
“I will repay that trust.”
Keldric didn’t yet know much about honor.
He had only avoided doing things that would cause others to point fingers at him, and the only way he truly knew how to
protect and uphold honor like a knight was to fight.
This time would be no different. Keldric only had to be faithful to the fight.
Perhaps this time he would learn about the honor and glory of a knight, and why a knight must fight.
And, perhaps…
‘Barony.’
Keldric kept an eye on the land located in the northwest of the unfolded map.
With the mountains blocking the east, Salzhoff and the County of Lassau to the south, and the Archbishopric just a short distance away.
There, in elegant handwriting, was written ‘Gofrit’.
Keldric’s eyes sparkled.
If one was born a man, it was hard to ignore such an opportunity.
Keldric had no intention of missing this opportunity.
And opportunity was something to be created with one’s own hands.
☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩
It was a night when he couldn’t easily fall asleep, thinking about becoming a proper hereditary noble and starting a family.
At some point, he fell into a deep sleep and was about to see the morning sun of tomorrow, but Keldric had once again arrived at the devil’s lair.
Saaa-.
Black smoke swirled thickly around the hollow space. Keldric watched the smoke, which moved stickily between the stone statues, with calm eyes.
The smoke gathered and wriggled, and then the strange wolf with black fur revealed itself.
[Heh heh heh! I thought you were wise, but you are foolish!]
“…What do you mean?”
[ Did I tell you to spray the maiden’s urine on that traitor? You could have just sprinkled it around him like salt, you ignorant fool! Heh heh!]
“…”
Keldric’s hand groped around his waist. This time, instead of the meteoric iron longsword, he grabbed the mace.
Kwaang!!
Without another word, Keldric slammed the mace into the wolf’s snout.
With a loud noise, the floor he kicked off of scattered stone fragments, and the sensation of hitting something properly tingled through Keldric’s hand.
[Kuaaaaak-!!]
The wolf, struck by the mace, shrieked and writhed on the floor.
Keldric noticed pure white smoke rising from the mace in his hand.
‘Thy will be done.’
The inscription on the mace was the source.
‘His Holiness the Pope blessed a total of seven weapons. That also means seven biblical verses were inscribed on the weapons.’
Keldric recalled Alyssa’s words.
A weapon blessed by the Pope himself. No wonder the demon was in agony.
It probably wouldn’t die, but inflicting pain was good enough for Keldric.
The mace’s handle was gripped as if it would break. Keldric strode towards the wolf.
[You! What are you doing now…! What is that hideous thing!]
“Bite down hard.”
[Wa, wait! Just a moment!]
It was a physical exorcism he never expected to perform, but surprisingly, it felt good.
There’s no such thing as a good demon after all.
Keldric felt that viscerally as he beat the wolf’s hide like a drum.
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